4 ms·

Smoking isn't antisocial at all. Smokers are usually the most friendly people I know. Some of the best social things I have done is smoking a cigarette on a tra

by w00pla 17y ago

Smoking isn't antisocial at all. Smokers are usually the most friendly people I know. Some of the best social things I have done is smoking a cigarette on a train station in a 3rd world country - it brings people together. If someone offers you a cigarette you would be an uppity idiot to decline. You can walk up to a strange smoker and ask him for a light. Taking a smokebreak outside while there is a complete smoker outside turns strangers into friends. Not anti-social at all - having a stick up your ass because you dislike smoking is.

deleted 17y ago
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axod 17y ago
>> "in a 3rd world country" There's the difference. We're in more developed nations where smoking is far less common now. You'd expect 3rd world countries to still be smoking. And yes, I concede, it does bring people together. But drinking is a far better way to do that. I don't have a stick up my ass because I absolutely hate the feeling of choking in disgusting smelly smoke. Again - I don't dislike it for some wooly reason like I think it's "bad". I dislike it because it tastes horrible. It smells absolutely disgusting. It makes your clothes smell. Your kids cough. Choking isn't fun. (And this is just second hand smoke. I've never smoked personally).
- jpv 17y ago
  The "3rd world country" line wasn't the point - I think you missed it altogether. Smoking has a bit of a culture - when you're smoking somewhere, and someone else is smoking, that's something you can physically talk to them about. You can saunter up to them and say "Virginia blend, eh? Never tried that" and you immediately have a conversation, provided they're not an asshole. It can be something that brings a group together: "Hey lets stop watching this movie and go outside and smoke." And it is very social: it's tough to NOT talk if you're just sitting around with some guys smoking. It can also just be something to do with your hands - for me, at least, it gets rid of the anxious foot-tapping or knuckle cracking and lets me just sit back and smoke and enjoy someone else's company. Basically what I'm trying to say is that today we are caught up by "interactive distractions" rather than actual human interaction. Smoking socially changes that. </rant>
  - axod 17y ago
    >> " when you're smoking somewhere, and someone else is smoking, that's something you can physically talk to them about." Agreed. Just like if you've both had a leg amputated, you have something in common and can also strike up a conversation. But it's not a good reason to purposely cut your leg off. That's probably why you believe smokers to be some of the most friendly people you know - because they have something in common with you. Personally, most smokers I see around are pretty unfriendly. Drinking is better for lowering the barriers to social interaction IMHO without making everyone smell horrible and choke. Also a bit healthier. Also I'm sure it depends on where you live. In the UK the culture is very much anti smoking.

by w00pla 17y ago

deleted 17y ago

[deleted]

axod 17y ago

>> "in a 3rd world country" There's the difference. We're in more developed nations where smoking is far less common now. You'd expect 3rd world countries to still be smoking. And yes, I concede, it does bring people together. But drinking is a far better way to do that. I don't have a stick up my ass because I absolutely hate the feeling of choking in disgusting smelly smoke. Again - I don't dislike it for some wooly reason like I think it's "bad". I dislike it because it tastes horrible. It smells absolutely disgusting. It makes your clothes smell. Your kids cough. Choking isn't fun. (And this is just second hand smoke. I've never smoked personally).

jpv 17y ago
The "3rd world country" line wasn't the point - I think you missed it altogether. Smoking has a bit of a culture - when you're smoking somewhere, and someone else is smoking, that's something you can physically talk to them about. You can saunter up to them and say "Virginia blend, eh? Never tried that" and you immediately have a conversation, provided they're not an asshole. It can be something that brings a group together: "Hey lets stop watching this movie and go outside and smoke." And it is very social: it's tough to NOT talk if you're just sitting around with some guys smoking. It can also just be something to do with your hands - for me, at least, it gets rid of the anxious foot-tapping or knuckle cracking and lets me just sit back and smoke and enjoy someone else's company. Basically what I'm trying to say is that today we are caught up by "interactive distractions" rather than actual human interaction. Smoking socially changes that. </rant>
- axod 17y ago
  >> " when you're smoking somewhere, and someone else is smoking, that's something you can physically talk to them about." Agreed. Just like if you've both had a leg amputated, you have something in common and can also strike up a conversation. But it's not a good reason to purposely cut your leg off. That's probably why you believe smokers to be some of the most friendly people you know - because they have something in common with you. Personally, most smokers I see around are pretty unfriendly. Drinking is better for lowering the barriers to social interaction IMHO without making everyone smell horrible and choke. Also a bit healthier. Also I'm sure it depends on where you live. In the UK the culture is very much anti smoking.